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2025 US News rankings affirm BW's standing as a superior college choice

BW is yet again among the top 10 best colleges in the 12-state Midwest region and earned a number of other standout rankings in the University's 31st straight year near the top of the rankings.

BW Strosacker Hall

For the 31st straight year, Baldwin Wallace University earned praise in U.S. News and World Report's 2025 "U.S. News Best Colleges" survey.

BW is ranked among the 10 Best Midwest Regional Universities once again this year and repeated top rankings in four other regional university categories:

  • Best Undergraduate Teaching #10
  • Top Performers on Social Mobility #23
  • Best Value Schools #20
  • Best Colleges for Veterans #2

In explaining how the rankings were calculated, U.S. News wrote, "There are plenty of reasons to attend a particular college or university. But students' top ones involve academic reputation, cost of attendance and return on investment … The 40th annual edition of Best Colleges took those priorities into account."

Best value, teaching and social mobility

Excellence since 1845 banner

In addition to notching a top 10 overall ranking, BW moved up into the top 10 for Best Undergraduate Teaching and rose to top 20 Best Value. BW is also ranked among the very best Midwest schools for enabling social mobility among graduates.

The value and social mobility rankings also matter for students looking for the best return on investment from their education.

U.S. News says, "More than half of a school's rank now comprises varying outcome measures related to schools' success at enrolling, retaining and graduating students from different backgrounds with manageable debt and postgraduation success."

Best for veterans

BW All-Star Veterans Center

Finally, BW's standout showing includes a No. 2 ranking on the Midwest Regional "Best Colleges for Veterans" list. 

A yellow ribbon school, BW was among the first colleges in Ohio to earn the state's Collegiate Purple Star award and is a regular recipient of GI Jobs Magazine's Gold Military Friendly recognition.

U.S. News rankings evaluate nearly 1,500 national colleges and universities on measures of academic quality, emphasizing social mobility and outcomes for graduating college students. 

BW's performance in quality, affordability and student outcomes was also recently affirmed by Money's 2024 Best Colleges, and the University also appears on a variety of other best lists, including Forbes, The Princeton Review and Wall St. Journal/Times college rankings.

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